So what are Einstein rings?  According to Wikipedia and Einstein ring is “the deformation of the light from a source (such as a galaxy or star) into a ring through gravitational lensing of the source’s light by an object with an extremely large mass (such as another galaxy, or a black hole)”

What?

The graphic above will make the definition a little easier to understand.  Basically, when everything is aligned correctly, the light that we see from certain object that pass around large gravity wells gets distorted into a ring.

This is kind of like an eclipse, but instead of blocking the light, the light is bent around an object.

Of course, Hubble has found a lot of these objects that were once only speculated by Einstein’s general theory of relativity.

Of course my math skills probably aren’t up to the task anymore.   Where did I put my physics books….

– Ex astris, scientia –

I am and avid amateur astronomer and intellectual property attorney in Pasadena, California and I am a Rising Star as rated by Super Lawyers Magazine.  As a former Chief Petty Officer in the U.S. Navy, I am a proud member of the Armed Service Committee of the Los Angeles County Bar Association working to aid all active duty and veterans in our communities. Connect with me on Google +

Norman